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Vineyard Planting in Sonoma County

Vineyard Planting in Sonoma County Nick Frey Sonoma County Winegrape Commission VESCO Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance since 2000 Ministerial permit Obtained through Ag Commissioner Grading and drainage permits if needed Obtained through PRMD

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Vineyard Planting in Sonoma County

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  1. Vineyard Planting in Sonoma County Nick Frey Sonoma County Winegrape Commission

  2. VESCO • Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance since 2000 • Ministerial permit • Obtained through Ag Commissioner • Grading and drainage permits if needed • Obtained through PRMD • Ag and Construction obtained same permits

  3. Results Under VESCO • Very few erosion control failures since 2000 • Widespread use of erosion controls on existing vineyards • Cover crops and straw mulch on exposed vineyard slopes, avenues and roads • Straw wattles to spread and slow water flows • 25- or 50-ft setbacks on blueline streams • Better vineyards and vineyard practices today!

  4. Ag Grading and Drainage • 2008 Grading, Drainage, Vineyard/Orchard Site Development Ordinance • Extends VESCO to cover ag grading and drainage reviews • Ag Commissioner is permitting authority • Permits are ministerial • If successfully challenged in court, revert to VESCO • A challenge has been filed

  5. Vineyard & Orchard Development • All vineyards and orchards over ½ acre • No planting on slopes over 50% • Setbacks extended to unnamed streams • 25 feet from top of bank - No touch • Option to maintain 25-ft vegetated filter strip

  6. Vineyard & Orchard Development • Level 1 • Slopes < 15% • No highly erodible soils • Or • Slopes < 10% • Highly erodible soils • Erosion Control Plan not required to be done by an Engineer • Level 2 • Slopes > 15% • No highly erodible soils • Or • Slopes > 10% • Highly erodible soils • Engineered Erosion Control Plan required

  7. Replanting Vineyards • Level 1 • Slope <30% • Not highly erodible soils • Or • Slope <15% • Highly erodible soils • Erosion Control Plan not required to be done by an Engineer • Level 2 • Slope >30% • Not highly erodible soils • Or • Slope >15% • Highly erodible soils • Engineer Erosion Control Plan required

  8. Vineyard & Orchard Development • Setbacks from Streams • 25 feet on Level 1 projects • 50 feet on Level 2 projects • Setbacks from wetlands • 100 feet if designated wetlands • 50 feet from undesignated wetlands • Option for 25 feet to be maintained vegetated filter strip • Dates for restricted soil disturbance • October 15 – April 1

  9. Ag Grading Permits • Regular Grading • < 5000 cubic yds; • Cut < 2 feet or cut slope < 5 feet • Fill < 3 ft • Natural slope < 15% • Grading Plan not required to be done by an engineer • Engineered Grading • > 5000 cubic yds • Cut > 2 ft or cut slope > 5 feet • Fill > 3 ft • Natural slope > 15% • Engineered plans required

  10. Ag Drainage Permits • Regular Drainage Improvement • Cross section area < 2 sq ft (18-inch diameter) • V ditch < 1 ft deep and top width = 4 ft • Drainage Plan not required to be done by an engineer • Engineered Drainage Improvement • Cross section area > 2 sq ft • V ditch > 1 ft deep • Engineered plan required

  11. Exemptions from Permits • Routine agricultural cultivation activities • Clearing, grubbing, ripping, plowing, disking, tilling • Soil disturbance is less than 3 feet deep • Grading • Road maintenance and repairs • Resurfacing existing roads • Drainage • Maintain/repair existing drainage improvements • Minor pipe or V ditch swale system

  12. Conclusion • Vineyard and orchard planting requires a ministerial permit in Sonoma County • Permits are administered by the Ag Commissioner • And new plantings are possible! • Before initiating design, call Gail Davis to schedule a preliminary site visit • 707-565-2371

  13. Acknowledgments • Gail Davis, Agricultural & Vineyard Conservation Coordinator • Cort Munselle, Munselle Civil Engineering

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